We are busy people. The nature of procurement means juggling many suppliers and internal demands on a daily basis. It can be hard to find time for continuing professional development (CPD) and skill maintenance which will help to boost procurement game. But CPD and skill enhancement do not always have to involve expensive online courses or time away from the office.
How did you get your start in procurement?
Lars: It was actually a complete coincidence. I studied Supply Chain Management in business school but my first job was in a research company carrying out customer satisfaction surveys. I quickly discovered that my interest lay elsewhere and found a job as a procurement analyst at Wolseley, the world’s largest distributor of plumbing articles. Read more
For years, driving a hard-bargain and negotiating costs were the primary skills expected from anyone with procurement or purchasing in their job title. Employee profiles, job descriptions and training programmes all centred on principals of saving a company as much money as possible, sometimes to the detriment of a successful supplier relationships. Read more
